My grandma and your grandma sittin’ by the fire, talking about Aibo.  Aibo?  Aibo-abio-a-be!

Robotics and robot dogs factor in this episode in a major way, with the second and much improved version of Sony’s Aibo robot dog.  An interesting fact about the new Aibo, is that this dog starts off as a bit disobedient, just like a real dog, and (machine) learns from it’s owner over time.  Could such a cute robot find its way into your home?  

Well, if not a robot dog, how about a robot symbiot, such as LG’s CLOi SuitBot, a human-centric wearable robot?  Expected to be unveiled in Berlin at the IFA show this week, LG will show how this tandem human-robot pair can improve the performance of the human — early articles highlight how this robot will make work easier — and we can’t wait to see how it performs.

SecondLife is in the news due to a job posting, causing some to speculate whether there may be a SecondLife client for iOS and Android in the future, and an article from the MIT Technology Review highlights Three Square Market company employees that have sub-dermal RFID microchips embedded in their hands in order to authenticate themselves when buying from vending machines or entering secure areas.  

Would you inject a chip under your skin or spring for a robotic canine companion?  We’d love to hear what you think!

Selected Links

New World Notes blog post: Linden Lab Creating iOS & Android Versions of SL, Job Listing Suggests — http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2018/08/lumiya-android-ios-second-life.html 

TechCrunch article: Hands-on with the bizarrely fascinating Looking Glass volumetric display — https://techcrunch.com/2018/08/22/hands-on-with-the-bizarrely-fascinating-looking-glass-volumetric-display/ 

Games at Work episode 159 — Virtually Secure — example of Gatebox — http://gamesatwork.biz/2017/01/22/episode-159-virtually-secure/ 

Engadget article: Sony Aibo hands-on: An adorable robo-pup that needs training — https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/23/sony-aibo-hands-on/ 

Cindi Lauper’s rendition of Iko Iko — https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/iko-iko/193520976?i=193521578 

The Belle Stars rendition of Iko Iko — https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/iko-iko/724500811?i=724501020 

Inverse article: LG’s Robot Suit Is Straight-Up Sci-Fi and Will Debut at IFA Berlin — https://www.inverse.com/article/48331-lgs-robot-suit-is-straight-up-sci-fi 

Cnet article: LG’s ‘wearable robot’ will transform the proletariat into unstoppable machines — https://www.cnet.com/news/lgs-wearable-robot-will-transform-the-proletariat-into-unstoppable-machines/ 

MIT Technology Review article: This company embeds microchips in its employees, and they love it — https://www.technologyreview.com/s/611884/this-company-embeds-microchips-in-its-employees-and-they-love-it/ 

Three Square Market — https://32market.com/public/ 

NPR article: Beer, Drinking Water And Fish: Tiny Plastic Is Everywhere —